WAILUKU, Hawaii — Maui Mayor Michael Victorino on Sunday criticized a decision by a County Council comnittee to recommend acceptance of a settlement proposal with environmental groups that sued over the use of injection wells.

HONOLULU — Authorities on Thursday sedated and euthanized four small whales after 10 of the animals were stranded alive on Sugar Beach on Maui. One whale calf was also found dead about a mile north of the other melon-headed whales.

The Sierra Club and Surfrider Foundation delivered two petitions to Maui County Council Chair Kelly King Wednesday, urging councilmembers to settle the county's legal case involving its Lahaina wastewater treatment facility, and withdraw its appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

This year is already turning out to be a dangerous one for traffic on Maui.

On Sunday, two people were killed in a car crash—bringing the total number of traffic related deaths on the island this year to 14. This time last year, there were only 10 traffic related deaths in Maui county. According to officials, the county averages 18 deaths from traffic crashes each year.

Maui is one of the fastest growing communities in Hawaii, but it faces numerous challenges including water rights, high cost of living, and a high rate of homes being used as short term rentals. Tackling those challenges will be the job of newly elected county mayor Mike Victorino.

Residents of Maui began feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Olivia Tuesday afternoon. This morning, communities on Molokai and Windward Maui are seeing heavy rains. But Maui County spokesperson Rod Antone said that wind and water are not the only threat to residents of the Valley Isle.

Hawaiʻi’s first medical marijuana dispensary opened for business on Maui yesterday. The dispensary is one of two licensed to serve patients in Maui County. But what about patients living on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi? HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi has this story.

Maui wants to take the lead in banning one-time use polystyrene products. And there's a bill before the County Council to do just that. Next time on Town Square, we'll consider that proposed ban, how effective the bag ban has been and whether Hawaii will continue to get the plastic out of our state.

Few issues in the islands are as divisive as GMO's. Arguments about genetically engineered crops are passionate on both sides. And for Maui County, they're boiling over to a ballot initiative. Eileen Chao has more from the Maui News.

While voters on one part of the Big Island head to the polls today, the results are already in for the rest of the state. And that includes the figures for voter turnout. Statewide, fewer than half of Hawai‘i’s voters actually cast ballots in the primary election. And on Maui, turnout was even lower. Eileen Chao has more from The Maui News.